Winter Ride KLR650

[Donk]

It's soon to be winter here in Wisconsin. For some reason when it comes to using salt Wisconsin will put down 5lbs when 1lbs would be sufficient. Worse yet the also use some sort of brine. Anyone who knows anything about KTMs knows they rust up terribly in that sort of environment, turn fuzzy and start to dissolve. After the first time they salt the roads I put the bikes away until after the first spring rain. But wait! Guys like the Ferret ride year round and I want to be one of those guys. Solution, buy a winter bike. A bike I can douse with ACP50 and not lose too much sleep over riding in less than ideal conditions. Thought about lots of bikes, almost bought an RT - great weather protection but too big and too BMW. I wanted something light that offered some weather protection yet would be easy to handle if the roads got bad. The Honda NC700X was high on the list but I couldn't find one for a reasonable price. V-Strom 650 is considered a great bike but somehow I couldn't warm up to it. In the end it's a Kawasaki KLR 650. Been riding it for a couple of weeks now and I'm quite enamored with the bike. Maybe because expectations were pretty low or maybe because there's a lot to like but either way it's a good bike. It's about a sophisticated as a wheelbarrow in a good FJR sort of way. Previous owner put a 1 tooth bigger countershaft sprocket on it so it's quite capable of cruising down the highway. It gives better wind protection than you'd expect and handles quite well. I think on a good day it makes half the hp of my old KTM 690 but that's ok it still gets the job done just fine. I'm having a blast with it!

 

[Sierra1]

You might already know, but riding around at 75+ will cause the motor to use oil rather quickly. Your sprocket change should help, but I don't know how much. But you're right, great little bike. The angle of the picture makes the front wheel/rotor look wonky.

 

[Donk]

You might already know, but riding around at 75+ will cause the motor to use oil rather quickly. Your sprocket change should help, but I don't know how much. But you're right, great little bike. The angle of the picture makes the front wheel/rotor look wonky.

Good to know about oil consumption, Thanks. I try to hold it to 70 indicated. Not the kind of bike you need to go faster on. I was surprised how well it did that because many people told me the KLR would top out by 65. Disc and wheel do look concentric in the picture. I stared at it a while too. Also looks like there is a scratch on fuel tank that isn't really there.

 

[Dons 1911]

What a great idea Donk! I live in north Idaho and experience the same (over)treatment of the roads. I have always ridden year round, unless it's too icy. When the icemelt crap is super heavy I leave my bike outside until it cools down, then rinse it off real good with cold water then push it into the garage. Yeah, it's a pain, but worth it to me. However a sacrificial winter bike...you certainly have me thinking! There was one time my Stelvio sort of slid out from under me on a big icy patch and I almost couldn't get it upright due to poor footing on the ice. Perhaps a lighter bike? Again, great idea Donk and be safe!

 

[magic]

Nice looking KLR. What year is it? I ride my DR650 through the winter but only when the roads are clear of ice.

 

[Donk]

It's an '11. To be honest it's too nice to be a winter beater bike but it was also too nice to pass up. With my 30' inseam I'm going to lower it 1" just in case the footing gets bad. My Bajaworx (https://www.bajaworx.com/dakar-windshield.html) came today so I'll get that on over the weekend. Clear of ice is a must. Ice is not forgiving and little you can do to stay upright. Worse it's not always easy to see. I had thought about a bigger bike, the RT, an S10 (they cost more used than an RT, go figure) even found a great V-Strom 1000 but decided lighter was the way to go. Looked at several KLRs before this one and once I saw this one my mind was made up. Only had 5450 miles on it when I got it it's up to 5800 already.

Back in New England we used to have a winter sailing club, The Frostbite Yacht Club. We sailed most the winter as long as things weren't iced up. Maybe we need to start a Frostbite Motorcycle Club for those of us who want to ride as much as possible in the winter up north?

 

[Sierra1]

My oldest son bought the '11 KLR brand new. Sold it to his brother, who used it as a dirt bike. The younger kid put 20k miles on it in little over a year, going nowhere, before he bought his FJR in '14. Initially he said he was going to keep riding the KLR because it got better mileage. I don't think there are any of us that would pick a KLR over a FJR . . . . for the street anyway. The FJR now has over 40k mi.

 

[Donk]

Hmmm.... 20k in a year on the KLR, 40k in 8 years on the FJR. And the FJR can bang out 1000 mile days like nothing. Just joking.

I owned a '14 FJR, great bike loved it. Put over 35K on it in about 18 months. Rode it through a blizzard coming down from Eisenhower Tunnel through Vale CO. I could own another one but too big, heavy, and wide to be my first choice for a winter bike.

 

[Sierra1]

You gotta remember we have a 12-month riding season. I'm doing about 6k a year, and not going on any trips. (only puting about 2k/yr on the Jeep) And the FJR still has the OE battery. He got his '14 FJR in '14 . . . . used . . . . for $10,800. Absolutely spotless. It was sitting next to a new one, and we couldn't tell the difference. It had 10K miles on it. Not sure if those are part of the 40k or not.

 

[Donk]

I loved my FJR, loved my S10, did not love the boxer, LOVE my KTMs, am loving the KLR. I must love motorcycles. In the cast of the KLR I think I had set the bar pretty low for expectations so I am pleasantly surprised every time I ride it.

 

[Avalanche123]

My S10 is insured until Dec.....it will become obvious when it is not ridable.....never considered a beater bike though for winter....however beater or not, ice and snow is not a good combo for two wheels

 

[Sierra1]

I was expecting just a bigger KLR when I got the Tenere. Sounded about the same, just had an extra cylinder. They're nothing alike.

 

[Avalanche123]

For us Canadians, 10k means 10,000 kilometres.....Do our US brothers mean 10k is 10,000 MILES? Quite the difference in distance. Sorry for the thread drift....

 

[Sierra1]

For us Canadians, 10k means 10,000 kilometres.....Do our US brothers mean 10k is 10,000 MILES? Quite the difference in distance. Sorry for the thread drift....

Sorry, arrogant American thinking that everybody uses miles. Yes, I was referring to miles.

 

[Avalanche123]

Doubt you are arrogant, certainly not my words.
Lots of folks use the same terminology, all good!

 

[Donk]

Got a new windshield from Bajaworx. Man this is the way you want a windshield upgrade to work. First try fits perfect and works exactly as advertised. Nice pocket of smooth wind protection. I wish every windshield I've replaced worked this well. Normally its 2 or 3 tries, as in different windshields bought before the results come close to this one. Very impressed with bajaworx. Price was reasonable too.

 

[Cycledude]

Got a new windshield from Bajaworx. Man this is the way you want a windshield upgrade to work. First try fits perfect and works exactly as advertised. Nice pocket of smooth wind protection. I wish every windshield I've replaced worked this well. Normally its 2 or 3 tries, as in different windshields bought before the results come close to this one. Very impressed with bajaworx. Price was reasonable too.
View attachment 96516

That definitely does look like a very nice windshield ! Do they make anything similar to fit a 2014+ Super Tenere ? I was unable to find anything for a Tenere on their website.

 

[Donk]

Not that I saw. Wish they made one for the Norden too.

 

[Donk]

2" of snow yesterday, 34 degrees and dry roads today. Had to take the KLR out for a 25-30 mile spin. Wicked good fun!

 

[Donk]

Riding the heck out of the KLR and what a hoot. Didn't even feel too bad about bringing it home covered with salt residue from wet roads yesterday although I did wash it with S100 and will recoat it with anti corrosion spray today. Too nice a bike to be called a beater bike so it's just the winter bike. Rain Sunday then nice the beginning of the week temps in the 40s. Looking forward to piling some miles on.